Ibtisam/Nrin Vakil - TLC - Comic Packs (Exclusive)

Ibtisam and Nrin Vakil seem destined to be enemies: Ibtisam is a Mon Calamari and Vakil is a Quarren – two species that have been foes for centuries. Yet an unlikely friendship evolves on a mission to Malrev. Ibtisam finds herself becoming attached to the stoic Nrin Vakil, while Nrin's initial animosity turns to respect for the courageous Mon Calamari, proving that the bonds of friendship can rise above the blind hostility of the past.

Because
the Mon Calamari and Quarrens are natural born enemies
inhabiting the same planet, it was very interesting
to get a Comic Packs set including one of each fighting
together for the same cause in the same X-wing fighter
pilot outfits for the ultimate benefit of the Rebel
Alliance. And although they initially butted heads
Ibtisam and Nrin Vakil ended their animosity (and
became quite close) and worked together as a team.
Ibtisam and Nrin Vakil (yes, we can barely pronounce
the names either) are very cool Rebels and despite
their species’ history, look great together
in their trademark X-wing fighter pilot uniforms.
Ibtisam is a blue skinned female Mon Calamari while
Nrin Vakil is a traditionally colored male Quarren.
They have uniquely sculpted helmets to fit flawlessly
over their uniquely shaped heads and are appropriately
scaled to one another. They both are from retooled
figures: one that was originally included in the Rebel
Pilot Legacy Evolutions set (Ibtisam
from the female X-wing pilot body) and the other
from the 2006 VTSC Luke Skywalker: X-wing Fighter
Pilot figure (Nrin Vakil), but only portions of Luke Skywalker have been used for Nrin Vakil. The rest of the figure is all-new. As you can imagine, these
are great action figures bodies, but Ibtisam and
Nrin Vakil are so much more than old figures with
new heads. The body (especially on Nrin Vakil) has
been retooled quite a bit to allow for the species
specific characteristics and well as additional height
given as needed to be in the most appropriate scale
possible. You can see how the white vest and pant
legs are longer than the ones featured on the vintage
Luke X-wing pilot figure.

The
paint application on both figures is stunning (especially
on the portraits). Hasbro included quite a bit of
unnecessary but welcomed additional details with
these beautiful paint jobs. Hasbro has also provided
collectors with consistency here. Almost every packaged
sample we came across at Walmart had an equally good
quality when it came to paint application. The detail
is stunning and the color choices are clever and
authentic. It seems Hasbro has been putting some
extra time (at the factory level) to ensure that
the art of the figure isn’t compromised by
shoddy paint jobs. It is applied very carefully and
we are extremely thankful for this because it will
always be our opinion that paint can make or break
the final result of the figure. Since these figures
were based off of Evolutions and Vintage figures,
Ibtisam and Nrin Vakil are premium and super-articulated
figures that blend in beautifully with your X-wing
fighter squadrons very well. And of course they look
equally awesome in an X-wing fighter vehicle. With
the proper amount of playing, the figures can be
put in stances that will most likely last the test
of time. They both stand very well and they look
fantastic posed next to any Rebel vehicle and other
Rebel pilot for that matter. Hasbro certainly has
done their part in making these excellent action
figures and we are so thankful to the attention to
detail given them. These figures are also “vintage” in
spirit because they are very reminiscent of two action
figures we got in 1983. You know who they are! They
are recognizable because we know both species and
it is so great to see them in a new light.

The
Mon Calmari/Quarren concept is certainly making its
way through The Legacy Collection. We received both
species in wave 2 of TLC as Mon Calamari Warrior and Quarren Soldier. And now we get both species
again as part of a Comic Packs set. We honestly cannot
get enough of them and we hope Hasbro continues to
bring us more and well as update the characters from
the film as well. It would be awesome to know get
another Tessek and Admiral Ackbar in the basic figure
line. This Comic Packs release was one of three exclusive
sets only available at Walmart. This particular set
is based on Star
Wars: X-wing Rogue Squadron (#19).
The set also comes with this comic reprint if you
are into such things. (Apparently, many of you are
into the comic book reprints.) They have shipped
in heavy numbers and should be easy to locate for
a good time after their release. This set is worth
every penny and it would be erroneous to pass this
set by. Rebel pilots also seem to be a focus for
Hasbro these days, and likewise we are very grateful
for this too. Who would have ever thought that we
would ever to be able to attain such a diverse sampling
of Rebel pilots? And what is more fascinating is
that there is a whole list of Rebel pilots still
yet to be made! So we look forward to what else Hasbro
has yet to dish out to us. In summary, this is a
highly recommended product, especially for X-wing
fans. These figures may never ship again after this
exclusive run, so we suggest you pick it up while
you see it.